More than a slap on the wrist, but not much more, considering his crimes

Apparently crime doesn’t not pay all that badly: former State Senator Vincent Fumo, 66, the most corrupt politician in Pennsylvania, who stole millions from the state and the people, got a whopping 55 months in federal prison.

Convicted on 137 counts, the initial sentencing guidelines called for between 21 and 27 years. The judge reduced the guidelines to 11 to 14 years, and then decided to sentence Mr Fumo just to 4 years and 7 months.

In contract, former Philadelphia City Councilman Rick Mariano, convicted on 18 counts of conspiracy, fraud, money-laundering, bribery and filing a false tax return, was sentenced to 6½ years.

To top it all off, U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter gave Mr Fumo until August 31st to report to federal prison, another six weeks of freedom.

Fifty-five months in federal prison won’t be fun for Mr Fumo, but in all probability he’ll survive his far-too-short term and return to some of the homes and luxuries he stole from the people.

He’d have gotten more time in prison for knocking over a Seven-Eleven.

3 Comments

When a Delaware Dem was involved with a scheme that had elements of bribery, fraud, tax evasion, or mortgage application perjury, an LBJ appointee seems to have been pulled out of the Old Timers Home to render ‘justice’. He found her guilty of a felony and gave her ‘time served’.

This amounted to a few hours. Not bad for a felony. Eric Holder might have done better.